Device for securing panels in a suspended ceiling or wall construction

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for securely fastening panels of a suspended wall or ceiling construction having in-turned flanges at the sides of the panels, panel supports running transverse to the panels, hooks on the panel supports, on which hooks the flanges of the panels rest, and locking members positioned between each two adjacent panels to insure firm securement.

I claim: 
     
       1. A suspension system for mounting panels to a generally planar surface of a building comprising a plurality of elongated, generally parallel panel supports; each of said panel supports being supported by said surface; and elongated panel; said panel having along each longitudinal side thereof an in-turned flange facing the in-turned flange of the opposite side; the material of said panel being sufficiently resilient to permit said flanges to be sprung apart; said panel being arranged with its length substantially transverse to the length of the panel supports; said panel supports having hooks; the flanges of said panel being engaged over said hooks; a locking member having a body portion with two ends; said locking member being positioned adjacent a longitudinal side of a panel with one end bearing against a panel support; said one end having a laterally extending arm; said locking member being rotatable to move said arm between unlocked and locked positions; said arm, when in locked position, extending over and bearing firmly against an in-turned flange of a panel to press said flange securely against its associated hook. 
     
     
       2. The suspension system of claim 1 in which said one end of said locking member has a generally circular depression therein, an elongated groove in the bottom of said depression, a guiding and locking element extending toward said locking member from said panel support, said element being dimensioned to fit into said groove when said arm is in said locked position, and said element guidingly engaging in said depression in all positions of said arm other than said locked position. 
     
     
       3. The suspension system of claim 2 in which said hook and said guiding and locking element are of such shape, dimension and relationship as to permit their formation by a single manufacturing operation performed on said panel support. 
     
     
       4. The suspension system of claim 2 in which the sides of said groove diverge outwardly to facilitate entry and exit of said element in said groove during rotation of said locking member. 
     
     
       5. The suspension system of claim 4 in which a pair of panels are supported from said panel supports with their in-turned flanges engaged with hooks and with their adjacent sides spaced apart, the body portion of said locking member is positioned in said space between said adjacent sides, and the dimension of said body portion is such as to bear against both of said adjacent side edges when said arm is in locked position. 
     
     
       6. The suspension system of claim 5 in which said one end has a second laterally extending arm extending outwardly therefrom in a direction opposite to said first mentioned arm, and when said arms are in locked positions said first arm bears against an in-turned flange of one of said pair of panels and said second arm bears against an in-turned flange of the other of said pair of panels to hold said flanges against their respective hooks. 
     
     
       7. The suspension system of claim 6 in which the length of said groove is substantially in alignment with the length of said arm. 
     
     
       8. The suspension system of claim 7 in which the end of said locking member opposite said one end has means for engagement by a turning tool for rotating said locking member. 
     
     
       9. The suspension system of claim 1 in which said panel support and said locking member each have a locking element, said locking elements being mutually engagable for releasably locking said locking member in locked position. 
     
     
       10. The suspension system of claim 9 in which the locking element of said panel support includes an opening in said panel support, the locking element of said locking member comprises a stop, and said stop being engaged in said opening in the locked position of said locking member. 
     
     
       11. The suspension system of claim 10 in which said stop is positioned on said arm. 
     
     
       12. The suspension system of claim 11 in which said arm is of metal and said stop comprises a notch in said arm and a portion of the margin of said notch is bent out of the plane of said arm. 
     
     
       13. The suspension system of claim 11 in which said stop includes a tapered ramp to permit unlocking said locking member. 
     
     
       14. The suspension system of claim 1 in which said arm is resilient, a shoulder on said one end of said locking member, and said shoulder bears against said panel support for increasing the pressure of said arm against its associated in-turned flange. 
     
     
       15. The suspension system of claim 14 in which said panel support has an opening therein, and said one end of said locking member has a post extending therefrom and through said opening in said panel support for guiding rotation of said locking member. 
     
     
       16. The suspension system of claim 14 in which said panel support has an opening therein, and said one end of said locking member has a screw extending therethrough and engaged in said hole in said panel support.